Information presenting substance-containing material, and identification method, identification system and device therefor

ABSTRACT

A material includes various encrypted information such as product type information, product history information and authentication judging information by using an information presenting substance exhibiting line spectrums and associated with certain encrypted information corresponding to the line spectrums. Line spectrum of the information presenting substance is detected by irradiating electromagnetic waves to the material. Since the line spectrum is narrow in half-width and strong in light emitting intensity, the distinctiveness is high and therefore the encrypted information included in the material can be specified assuredly, enabling the simple and assured identification of the material.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to information presentingsubstance-containing material capable of easily and assuredly performingprocessing operations such as a separation of waste materials dependingon categories, a tracking survey of production history of a certainproduct and checking of authenticity of a certain product. It alsorelates to an identification method, an identification system and anidentification device for performing the aforementioned processingoperations.

BACKGROUND ART

Conventionally, an identification of material such as plastics has beenperformed by any one or plural combinations of physical analysis foranalyzing gravity, hardness, melting point, dielectric constant, colortone, etc. of the material and chemical analysis for analyzing infraredspectrum or heat of the material.

In the case of physical analysis for identifying the material, however,there are drawbacks that generally it is required to adjust and/ordestroy the material and that it takes a long time to complete theanalysis. On the other hand, in the case of chemical analysis foridentifying the material, in the infrared spectrum analysis there aredrawbacks that accurate analysis cannot be expected when the surface iscontaminated, and in thermal analysis there are drawbacks that it isrequired to melt the material. Furthermore, although both the analyses,i.e., physical analysis and chemical analysis, can identify the type ofmaterial, it is difficult to identify the production history ormanufacturer of the material.

A method capable of solving the aforementioned drawbacks has been known(e.g., Japanese Unexamined Laid-open Patent Publication No. H8-269370).This method includes the step of: adding one or more elements to thematerial to be identified; irradiating the material with an X-ray;detecting the spectrum radiated from the element(s); and identifying thematerial based on the detected spectrum.

In general, however, the spectrum emitted from the aforementionedelement(s) or compositions is wide in half-width Δ λ (i.e., bandwidth atthe half value of the peak light emitting intensity). Therefore, incases where the spectrum overlaps with a spectrum having characteristicssimilar to the wavelength λ, it is difficult to discriminate them, whichmakes it difficult to identify the encrypted information included in thematerial.

The present invention was made in view of the aforementioned problems,and aims to provide information presenting substance-containing materialexcellent in spectrum identification and capable of assuredly specifyingencrypted information included in the material and therefore capable ofeasily and assuredly identifying the material. It also aims to providethe method, the system and the device for identifying the material.

More specifically, the present invention aims to provide informationpresenting substance-containing material including various encryptedinformation such as not only the material type information but also theproduction history information and the authentication judginginformation and enabling easy and assured processing operations such asa separation of waste materials depending on categories, a trackingsurvey of production history of a certain product, and checking ofauthenticity of a certain product. It also aims to provide theidentification method, the identification system and the identificationdevice for performing the aforementioned processing operations.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

An information presenting substance-containing material according to thepresent invention contains an information presenting substance, whereinthe information present substance is a compound including one or moreions selected from the group consisting of a transition element ionhaving an incomplete 3d shell, a transition element ion having anincomplete 4d shell, a transition element ion having an incomplete 5dshell and a rare-earth element ion and therefore exhibiting one orplural line spectrums and, and wherein the information presentingsubstance is associated with specific encrypted informationcorresponding to the one or plural line spectrums.

The encrypted information can be information regarding the materialitself such as the material type information, the product historyinformation and the manufacture, or can be information regarding theproduct in which the material is used.

According to the above, by mixing the information presenting substanceinto the material to be identified, the material can have variousencrypted information such as the type information, the product historyinformation and the authentication information.

The line spectrum to be used for identifying the encrypted informationis narrow in half-width and strong in light emitting intensity.Therefore, the identifiability is high, enabling the encryptedinformation included in the material to be simply and assuredlyidentified, which results in an easy and assured identification of thematerial.

Furthermore, even if the same type and amount of the aforementionedelement ion is used, the information presenting substance exhibitsdifferent line spectrum depending on the type of the compound in whichthe element ion is included. Accordingly, by combining the element ionand the compound, a large variety of line spectrums can be created,enabling various encrypted information to be included in the material.

Furthermore, since the information presenting substance seldom exists ingeneral material, a desired line spectrum can be detected even in anenvironment existing noises generated under various conditions.

Plural types of the information presenting substances can be included inthe material.

In this case, since the material exhibits a plurality of line spectrumsdue to the combination of plural types of information presentingsubstances, various encrypted information can be easily included in thematerial.

Furthermore, it can be constituted that the encrypted information isassociated with the plural line spectrums and represented by pluraldigit numeric data, wherein each digit of the numeric data correspondsto a wavelength of each line spectrum and a value of each digitcorresponds to light emitting intensity of each line spectrum.

In this case, the line spectrum group consisting of a plurality of linespectrums can be used as a bar-code, enabling plural digit numericencrypted information to be included in the material.

It is preferable that the information presenting substance exhibits atleast one line spectrum within a wavelength region covering fromultraviolet light to infrared light.

In this case, since the line spectrums in the wavelength region fromultraviolet light to infrared light can be detected with a small orsimple device, the material can be easily identified at a desiredlocation without paying special safety attention required when using alarge detecting device.

Furthermore, in the case where the compound as the informationpresenting substance is an organic compound, the information presentingsubstance becomes excellent in thermal durability and strong againstultraviolet light. In the case where the compound is an organiccompound, the information presenting substance becomes readily solublein organic materials and increases in light emitting intensity of theline spectrums. In the case where the compound is an organic andinorganic complex compound, the information presenting substance canhave both the characteristics of the non-organic compound and theorganic compound.

In the case where the information presenting substance is a crystal, theinformation presenting substance can stably exhibit line spectrums.

In the case where the information presenting substance is an amorphoussubstance, since the line spectrums become complicated, it becomesdifficult for a third party to reproduce maliciously, resulting infurther enhanced security of the encrypted information included in thematerial.

In the case where the information presenting substance is a complex,since the complex has dye-like characteristics, the informationpresenting substance becomes readily soluble in organic materials andincreases in light emitting intensity of the line spectrums.

Furthermore, in the case where the information presenting substance is asemiconductor, the information presenting substance increases in lightemitting intensity of line spectrums.

Furthermore, it is preferable that the material is plastic.

In this case, it is possible to cause the information presentingsubstance to be easily included in the plastic material at the time ofmolding the plastic material. In addition, due to the thermoplasticcharacteristics of the plastic materials, it is impossible to cause theinformation presenting substance to be included in plastic materialunless the state of the material is changed by heat after the molding.Therefore, malicious addition of encrypted information by a third partycan be prevented.

A product according to the present invention uses the aforementionedinformation presenting substance-containing material.

In this case, it is possible to cause the information presentingsubstance to be easily included in the plastic material at the time ofmolding the plastic material. In addition, since it is impossible tocause the information presenting substance to be included in plasticmaterial after the molding, malicious addition of encrypted informationby a third party can be prevented.

In a method for identifying information presenting substance-containingmaterial according to the present invention, the information presentingsubstance is a compound including one or more ions selected from thegroup consisting of a transition element ion having an incomplete 3dshell, a transition element ion having an incomplete 4d shell, atransition element ion having an incomplete 5d shell and a rare-earthelement ion and therefore giving one or plural line spectrums, and theinformation presenting substance is associated with specific encryptedinformation corresponding to the one or plural line spectrums,

the method, includes the steps of: storing the line spectrums and theencrypted information in an associated manner in a storing means;detecting the line spectrums of the information presenting substance byirradiating electromagnetic waves within a certain wavelength regionagainst the information presenting substance-containing material or aproduct using the material; and identifying the information presentingsubstance-containing material by specifying corresponding encryptedinformation based on the detected line spectrums.

In this case, the line spectrum to be used for identifying the encryptedinformation is narrow in half-width and strong in light emittingintensity. Therefore, the identifiability is high, enabling theencrypted information included in the material to be simply andassuredly specified, which results in an easy and assured identificationof the material.

An information presenting substance-containing material identificationsystem according to the present invention is an identification systemfor identifying the information presenting substance-containingmaterial, wherein the information presenting substance is a compoundincluding one or more ions selected from the group consisting of atransition element ion having an incomplete 3d shell, a transitionelement ion having an incomplete 4d shell, a transition element ionhaving an incomplete 5d shell and a rare-earth element ion and thereforeexhibiting one or plural line spectrums, and the information presentingsubstance is associated with specific encrypted informationcorresponding to the one or plural line spectrums, the system includes:a storing means which stores the line spectrums and the encryptedinformation in an associated manner in a storing means; a detectingmeans which detects the line spectrums of the information presentingsubstance by irradiating electromagnetic waves within a certainwavelength region against the information presentingsubstance-containing material or a product using the material; and anidentifying means which identifies the material by specifyingcorresponding encrypted information from the storing means based on theline spectrums detected by the detecting means.

In this case, the line spectrum to be used for identifying the encryptedinformation is narrow in half-width and strong in light emittingintensity. Therefore, the identifiability is high, enabling theencrypted information included in the material to be simply andassuredly specified, which results in an easy and assured identificationof the material.

Furthermore, an identification device according to the present inventionis an identification device for use in the aforementioned informationpresenting substance-containing material identification system, whereinthe device includes: a storing means which stores the line spectrums andthe encrypted information in an associated manner; and an identifyingmeans which identifies the material by specifying correspondingencrypted information from the storing means based on the line spectrumsdetected by a detecting means for detecting the line spectrums of theinformation presenting substance by irradiating electromagnetic waveswithin a certain wavelength region against the information presentingsubstance-containing material or a product using the material.

With this system, it becomes possible to easily and assuredly realizethe identification system by disposing the identification device at apredetermined position and connecting to a detecting means for detectingthe line spectrums in a communicated manner.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a schematic view showing the spectrum exhibited by aconventional information presenting substance, and FIG. 1B is aschematic view showing the line spectrum exhibited by an informationpresenting substance according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an energy level diagram of an neodymium ion in YAG crystal.

FIG. 3 is a schematic structural view of an identification system.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing the hardware structure of theidentification device shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing the electric structure of thedetecting device shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing the electric structure of thecomputer shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the identification systemshown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 8 shows the line spectrum of the test piece (1).

FIG. 9 shows the line spectrum of the test piece (2).

FIG. 10 shows the line spectrum of the test piece (3).

FIG. 11 shows the line spectrum of the test piece (4).

FIG. 12 shows the line spectrum of the test piece (5).

FIG. 13 shows the line spectrum of the test piece (6).

FIG. 14 shows the line spectrum of the test piece (7).

FIG. 15 show the line spectrum of the test piece (8).

FIG. 16 shows the line spectrum of the test piece (9).

FIG. 17 shows the line spectrums of three types of test pieces, or threetest pieces in which fluorescent substance D of 1 ppm, 10 ppm and 100ppm are added to polypropylene resin respectively.

FIG. 18 shows an example of the analysis and the display of spectrumdata.

FIG. 19 shows the fluorescent spectrum of the test piece in which thefluorescent substance D of 1 ppm is added to polycarbonate resin.

FIG. 20 is a schematic view showing the hard ware structure of thedetecting device used in Embodiment 2.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[Information Presenting Substance-Containing Material]

The information presenting substance-containing material according tothe present invention will be explained.

The information presenting substance-containing material contains aninformation present substance which is a compound including one or moreions selected from the group consisting of a transition element ionhaving an incomplete 3d shell, a transition element ion having anincomplete 4d shell, a transition element ion having an incomplete 5dshell and a rare-earth element ion and therefore exhibiting one orplural line spectrums and, and wherein the information presentingsubstance is associated with specific encrypted informationcorresponding to the one or plural line spectrums.

As the information presenting substance-containing material, other thanvarious plastic materials, paint, ink, fiber, paper and metal can beexemplified. The information presenting substance can be added to thematerial, or can be introduced in the material in a chemically bondedmanner such as a bridged manner or ion bonded manner, or can be appliedto the surface of the material.

Especially, in cases where the material is plastic, it is possible tocause the information presenting substance to be easily included in theplastic material at the time of molding the plastic material. Inaddition, due to the thermoplastic characteristics of the plasticmaterials, it is impossible to include the information presentingsubstance in plastic material unless the state of the material ischanged by heat after the molding. Therefore, malicious addition ofencrypted information by a third party can be prevented.

As the aforementioned compound, an inorganic compound, an organic andinorganic complex compound and an organic compound can be exemplified.Especially, in cases where the compound is an inorganic compound, theinformation presenting substance is excellent in thermal durability andstrong against ultraviolet light.

As the aforementioned information presenting substance, a crystal, anamorphous substance and a complex can be exemplified.

For example, in cases where the information presenting substance is acrystal, the information presenting substance can stably exhibit linespectrums. In the case where the information presenting substance is anamorphous substance, since the line spectrums become complicated, itbecomes difficult for a third party to reproduce maliciously, resultingin further enhanced security of the encrypted information included inthe material. Furthermore, in the case where the information presentingsubstance is a complex, since the complex has dye-like characteristics,the information presenting substance becomes readily soluble in organicmaterials and increases in light emitting intensity of the linespectrums. In addition, in the case where the information presentingsubstance is a semiconductor, the information presenting substanceincreases in light emitting intensity of line spectrums.

Since the information presenting substance seldom exists in generalmaterial, it becomes possible to decrease the background of the linespectrums. As a result, the detection of the line spectrums can beperformed easily even in an environment existing noises generated undervarious conditions.

The examples of the information presenting substance include, forexample, (1) Y₂O₃ to which an europium ion (Eu³⁺) is added, (2)MgAl₁₁O₁₉ to which a selenium (Se) ion, a terbium (Tb) ion and amanganese ion are added simultaneously, (3) magnesium fluoride (MgF₂),zinc fluoride (ZnF₂), calcium fluoride (CaF₂) or barium fluoride (BaF₂)to which nickel ion (Ni²⁺) or cobalt ion (Co²⁺) is added, (4) glass towhich a neodymium ion (Nd³⁺), ytterbium ion (Yb³⁺), holmium ion (Ho³⁺)or erbium ion (Er³⁺) is added, (5) magnesium oxide to which a manganeseor lithium is added, (6) complex including rare-earth element or thelike, and (7) hybrid glass.

As shown in FIG. 1B, these information presenting substances exhibit aline spectrum narrow in half-width Δ λ and strong in light emittingintensity when irradiated with electromagnetic wave. A line spectrumdenotes a spectrum meeting the condition of the following formula [1],preferably formula [2], more preferably formula [3].0<Δλ/λ<0.3  [1]0<Δλ/λ<0.1  [2]0<Δλ/λ<0.03  [3]wherein Δ λ is a half-width and λ is a wavelength of a line spectrum.

Furthermore, the information presenting substance exhibits differentline spectrums depending on the type of the compound to which thetransition element ion or the rear-earth element ion is included even ifthe same type and amount of the aforementioned element ion is used.

The mechanism that the information presenting substance emits linespectrums will be explained concretely while exemplifying YAG crystal(Y₃Al₅O₁₂) to which an neodymium ion (Nd³⁺) is added.

FIG. 2 is an energy level diagram of an neodymium ion (Nd³⁺) in YAGcrystal (Y₃Al₅O₁₂).

In FIG. 2, when near-infrared light is irradiated to the YAG crystal,the neodymium ion in the YAG crystal is excited from the ground level[E0] to the above absorption band [E3], and then quickly drops down tothe level [E2] without emitting light (radiationless transition). Thetime for holding this level [E2] is relatively long, and a line spectrum(near-infrared light) with small half-width and strong light emittingintensity is emitted when transiting to the lower level [E1].

In this embodiment, the explanation is directed to the four energylevels, but not limited thereto. Another information presentingsubstance having another energy levels can also be applied.

It is preferable that the information presenting substance is includedin material within a slight amount range not exerting an influence onthe inherent behavior of the material to decrease the influences to theappearance and physicality of the material. Although the slight amountrange not exerting an influence on the inherent behavior of the materialvariously varies depending on the type of materials or the like, thepreferable range of the information presenting substance with respect tothe material is from 0.01 ppm to 1,000 ppm (including 0.01 ppm and 1,000ppm), and the more preferable range is from 0.5 ppm to 200 ppm(including 0.5 ppm and 200 ppm).

The aforementioned amount of 0.01 ppm or more is mainly consideredsensitivity of a commonly available detecting device. The amount of1,000 ppm or less is considered so as not to exert an influence onappearance and physicality of most material. The preferable range of 0.5ppm to 200 ppm is to keep sufficient measuring reliability, reduce theeconomical burden and minimize the effects on the inherentcharacteristic of the material.

The method of including the information presenting substance in thematerial is not specifically limited, and can be any method depending onthe type of the material and the information presenting substance. Forexample, in cases where the material is plastic, a method in whichdirect molding is performed after performing a dry blend with a drumtumbler, a method in which compound processing is performed with anextruder and a method in which compounding or molding is performed withan internal mixer or a heating roller can be exemplified. A usage aftermasterbatching can be performed.

The information presenting substance can be used after subjecting tosurface finishing using silane coupling agent to enhance the affinityand dispersibility to resin.

To attain an even distribution and dispersion of the informationpresenting substances in the material at the time of causing theinformation presenting substances to be included in the material, fattyacid amide, fatty acid metal solt or fatty acid ester can be used aslubricant.

The encrypted information is not specifically limited, and can beinformation on the material itself such as the type, the productionhistory and the manufacturer of the material and information on theproduct using the material.

Thus, by including the information presenting substance in material,various encrypted information such as type information, productionhistory information and authentication information can be included inthe material.

The line spectrum to be used for specifying the encrypted information issmall in half-width and strong in light emitting intensity. Therefore,its identifiability is high, enabling the encrypted information includedin the material to be simply and assuredly identified, which results inan easy and assured identification of the material.

Furthermore, even if the same type and amount of the aforementionedelement ion is used, the information presenting substance exhibitsdifferent line spectrum depending on the type of the compound in whichthe element ion is included. Accordingly, by combining the element ionand the compound, a large variety of line spectrums can be created,enabling various encrypted information to be included in the material.

Furthermore, since the transition element ion or the rear-earth elemention to be added seldom exists in general material, a desired linespectrum can be detected even in an environment existing noisesgenerated under various conditions.

Identifying the information presenting substance-containing material isperformed by: storing the line spectrum and the encrypted information ina storing means in an associated manner; irradiating electromagneticwave in a predetermined wavelength area to the information presentingsubstance; detecting the line spectrum emitted from the informationpresenting substance in accordance with the irradiation of theelectromagnetic wave, and then identifying the corresponding encryptedinformation based on the detected line spectrum.

For example, as shown in the following Table 1, in the case where theline spectrums (wavelength X, wavelength Y, wavelength Z) and theencrypted information (material a, material b, material c) areassociated with each other, when the line spectrum of wavelength X,wavelength Y or wavelength Z is detected from the material, thecorresponding encrypted information of the material a, b or c can bespecified.

TABLE 1 Wavelength of line spectrum X Y Z Type of material a b c

Furthermore, as shown in the following Table 2, in the case where theline spectrums (light emitting intensity α, light emitting intensity β,light emitting intensity γ) and the encrypted information (manufacturerA, manufacturer B, manufacturer C) are associated with each other, whenthe line spectrum of light emitting intensity α, light emittingintensity: β or light emitting intensity γ is detected from thematerial, the encrypted information of the corresponding manufacturer A,B or C can be specified.

TABLE 2 Light emitting intensity of line spectrum α β γ Manufacture ofmaterial A B C

Regarding the corresponding relationship between the line spectrums andthe encrypted information, in the above explanation, the spectrum itselfand the encrypted information are associated with each other. However,the content or type of the information presenting substance to bederived from the line spectrum and the encrypted information can beassociated with each other.

Furthermore, the encrypted information can be associated with aplurality of line spectrums and represented by plural digit numeric datain which each digit of the numeric data corresponds to the wavelength ofeach line spectrum and a value of each digit corresponds to the lightemitting intensity of each line spectrum.

For example, as shown in the following Table 3, in the case where eachdigit of the encrypted information corresponds to each wavelength X, Yor Z of the line spectrums and the value of each digit corresponds toeach light emitting intensity of the line spectrums, the numeric data ofthe encrypted information can be specified by measuring the lightemitting intensity of each wavelength X, Y and Z of the line spectrums.

With this, the line spectrum group consisting of a plurality of linespectrums can be used like a bar-code, enabling plural digit numericencrypted information to be included in the material. Especially, whenthe numeric data is used as an ID number, an ID card highly effectivefor preventing forgery can be provided.

In the example shown in Table 3, the numeral obtained by multiplying thecontent (peak value) of the information presenting substance by 10 androunded is used as the numeric data.

TABLE 3 Wavelength of line spectrum X Y Z Light emitting intensity ofline spectrum 0.294 0.336 0.109 Encrypted information (numeric data) 3 31[Identification System]

Next, an identification system for identifying the informationpresenting substance-containing material will be explained withreference to FIGS. 3 to 6.

As shown in FIG. 3, this identification system is provided with adetecting device 1 for detecting the line spectrum of the informationpresenting substance included in the material, a computer 2 foridentifying the material based on the detected line spectrum detected bythe detecting device 1, and an operation device 3 such as a fluorescencespectrum displaying device for performing a predetermined operationbased on the identified result by the computer.

The detecting device 1 irradiates an electromagnetic wave within apredetermined wavelength region, preferably electromagnetic wave withina wavelength region covering from ultraviolet light to infrared light,more preferably electromagnetic wave within a wavelength region coveringfrom ultraviolet light to near-infrared light, to the informationpresenting substance-containing material, and detects the line spectrumexhibited from the information presenting substance in accordance withthe irradiation. A detecting device 1 employing techniques such asspectroscopy system by a CCD, time-resolved spectral diffraction ormodulation spectral diffraction is preferably used.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example of a hardware of the detecting device 1.

The detecting device 1 is provided with an excitation light source 11,various optical systems 12, a sample stage 13 and a spectroscope 14.

The excitation light source 11 is provided with a xenon flash lamp 111,a lamp driving circuit 112, an external condenser 113 and a DC powersupply 114. The xenon flash lamp 111 has a reflecting mirror insidethereof, and the specification is as follows: the maximum mean inputenergy is 1 J; the maximum mean input is 60 w; the maximum repeatingfrequency is 60 Hz (if the maximum mean input is 60 w or less, it isoperable up to 100 Hz); and the half-width of the pulse width of thelight emission is 2.9 micro second (where 2 μF, 1,000V).

The exciting pulse light from the xenon flash lamp 111 is formed intoparallel light by the lens 121, and then the light having a wavelengthcomponent in a ultraviolet region required to excite the sample isselected by a reflection type ultraviolet transmitting filter 122 andtransmitted therethrough. The transmitted light is reflected by thereflection mirror 123 and the half mirror 124 and then condensed by thelens 125 to be irradiated to the sample. The half mirror 124 has acombination of a function of irradiating only the ultraviolet light tothe sample by reflecting the exciting light and a function oftransmitting only the emission component within the visible range to thespectroscope 14. The lens 125 has a combination of a function ofcondensing the ultraviolet light into the sample and a function offorming the emission component from the sample into parallel light.

The light emission from the sample is transmitted through the halfmirror 124 and the visible light transmitting optical filter 126(transmitting the light with a wavelength of 400 nm or above) and thencondensed by the lens 127 into the slit of the spectroscope 14.

The spectroscope 14 is a polychromator employing an advanced monkgirisonmount covering the visible range waveband nevertheless the small size,and includes an entrance slit, a concave mirror, a diffraction gratingand a line sensor made of a CCD element. The fluorescent light condensedby the lens 127 on the slit of the spectroscope 14 is divided intorespective wavelengths by the grating in the spectroscope 14 and thenconverted into analog signals by the line sensor. Thereafter, the analogsignals are converted into digital signals by an A/D converter circuitto be transmitted to the computer 2 as line spectrum data.

FIG. 5 shows an electric structure of the spectroscope 14.

The spectroscope 14 has a function of storing charge corresponding tothe amount of light entered into the CCD element 141 when fluorescentlight from the sample is entered into the CCD element 141 andtransferring the charge to an electric circuit connected to the outside.In accordance with the control pulse from the CPU 142, the output fromthe CCD element 141 is converted into a digital signal by the A/Dconverting circuit 143 and then inputted into the CPU 142 as serialdata. The data inputted into the CPU 142 is subjected to a serial-USBconversion, and then transmitted to the computer via the USB interfaceterminal 144. The CPU 142 is provided with a general-purpose digitalinput-output terminal 145 for controlling the xenon flash lamp 111 orinputting/outputting a synchronizing pulse or trigger for a deviceconnected to an outside. The CPU 142 is operated by a program writtentherein. The CPU is provided with a program input-output terminal 146for rewriting the program. Therefore, the function of the CPU 142 can bechanged by changing the program.

As shown in FIG. 6, the computer 2 is provided with a receiving portion21 for receiving the line spectrum data transmitted from the detectingdevice 1, a storing portion 22 for storing the line spectrum and theencrypted information in an associated manner, a controlling portion 23having a function of identifying the material by specifying thecorresponding encrypted information from the storing portion 22 based onthe line spectrum data, and a transmitting portion 24 for transmittingpredetermined information to the operation device 3 depending on theidentified result of the material.

In identifying the material by the controlling portion 23, the measuredone optical spectrum or displayed graph can be decomposed into severaltypes of components by a least square method or the like using aconventionally available spectroscopic analysis software or graphdisplaying software to display the result. By using line spectrum datapreviously detected and stored, it can be equipped with a function ofanalyzing using a least square method so as to reproduce the newlydetected line spectrum.

[Operation of Identification System]

Next, an operation of the aforementioned identification system will beexplained with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 7. In thefollowing explanation and drawings, “Step” will be abbreviated as “S.”

In the detecting device 1, an electromagnetic wave within apredetermined wavelength region, preferably electromagnetic wave withina wavelength region covering from ultraviolet light to infrared light,more preferably electromagnetic wave within a wavelength region coveringfrom ultraviolet light to near-infrared light, is irradiated to theinformation presenting substance-containing material disposed on thesample stage 13, and the line spectrum exhibited from the informationpresenting substance in accordance with the irradiation is detected(S1).

The detecting device 1 performs A/D conversion of the detected linespectrum and then transmits the converted data to the computer 2 as linespectrum data (S2).

Next, in the computer 2, the receiving portion 21 receives the linespectrum data transmitted from the line detecting device 1 (S3).

Then, the controlling portion 23 identifies the material by specifyingthe corresponding encrypted information based on the line spectrum data(S4).

The transmitting portion 24 transmits a prescribed information dependingon the identification result of the material by the controlling portion23 (S5).

Thereafter, the operation device 3 receives the prescribed informationtransmitted from the computer 2 and performs prescribed operations suchas a display of various screens or an identification based on thereceived prescribed information.

At the time of detecting the line spectrum emitted from the informationpresenting substance, noises around the targeted line spectrum can becut with a filter, or modulation can be performed.

Some light emission of the information presenting substance may have alonger life than the background light emission, and therefore thedetection of line spectrum can be performed at a certain time later.

Although the detecting device 1, the computer 2 and the operation device3 are constituted separately, at least two of them can be integratedinto a single device.

In cases where an optical fiber is used, the detecting device can detectthe line spectrum of the information presenting substance located at theinside of the object to be identified via a small gap.

EXAMPLE Example 1

Next, concrete examples according to the present invention will beexplained.

As information presenting substance-containing materials, samples(samples 1 to 9) shown in Table 4 were prepared. These samples werematerials in which one or a plurality of fluorescent substances(fluorescent substance A, fluorescent substance B, fluorescent substanceC, fluorescent substance D, fluorescent substance E), fluid paraffin andmagnesium stearate (ST-Mg) shown in Table 4 were added to polypropyleneresin. The samples 1 to 9 were formed into a rectangle shape of 10 cmlength×5 cm width×about 2 mm thickness, respectively.

The amount of each fluorescent substance was shown by weight percentagewith respect to 100-gram polypropylene resin. As shown in Table 5, eachfluorescent substance was a substance in which a rear-earth ion wasadded to a host crystal. Since the amount of added fluorescent substanceis a total of the host crystal and the rear-earth ion, it is consideredthat the amount of the actually added rear-earth ion is smaller thanthat shown in Table 4.

TABLE 4 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Fluores- 0.01 cent sub- stance A Fluores- 0.010.01 0.001 cent sub- stance B Fluores- 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.001 centsub- stance C Fluores- 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.001 0.001 0.01 cent sub- stanceD Fluores- 0.01 cent sub- stance E Fluid 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.10.1 paraffin St-Mg 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 [unit: %]

TABLE 5 Wavelength of main Rear line Fluorescent Substance Host crystalearth ion spectrum Fluorescent substance A (Sr,Ca,Ba)₅(PO₄)Cl Eu 440 nmFluorescent substance B BaMg₂Al₁₆O₂₇ Eu 450 nm Fluorescent substance CLaPO₄:Ce Tb 543 nm Fluorescent substance D Y(P,V)O₄ Eu 619 nmFluorescent substance E Y₂O₃ Eu 611 nm

The fluorescent spectrums corresponding to each of Samples 1 to 9 areshown in FIGS. 8 to 16. The fluorescent intensity of each fluorescentspectrum is standardized such that the peak intensity of Sample 7 (shownin FIG. 14) is considered to be 1.

Samples 1 to 4 were substances in which one of fluorescent substances A,B, C and D was added to polypropylene resin. Samples 5 and 6 weresubstances in which three types of fluorescent substances were added atthe same density to polypropylene resin. Samples 7 and 9 were substancesin which two types of fluorescent substances different in density wereadded to polypropylene resin. Sample 8 was a substance in which twotypes of fluorescent substances different in density were added topolypropylene resin.

For example, in Sample 5, three types of fluorescent substances B, C andD of the same density of 0.01% (100 ppm), fluid paraffin and magnesiumstearate (St-Mg) were added in polypropylene resin. As shown in FIG. 12,the measured line spectrum of Sample 5 exhibits a fluorescent spectrumobtained by overlapping three types of separately measured fluorescentspectrums corresponding to the fluorescent substances B, C and D andshown in FIG. 9, FIG. 10 and FIG. 11 respectively.

As shown in FIGS. 8 to 16, from the observed results of the fluorescentspectrums of Samples 1 to 9, it is confirmed that line spectrums eachhaving a narrow wavelength Δ λ is generated. Especially, as shown inFIGS. 10 to 14, from the observed results of the fluorescent spectrumsof Samples 3 to 7, it is confirmed that line spectrums each having avery narrow wavelength Δ λ is generated.

Fluorescent spectrums of three types of samples in which 1 ppm, 10 ppmand 100 ppm of fluorescent substance D were added to polypropylene resinrespectively were measured. Then, the concentration effect of thefluorescent intensity was observed.

As a result, as shown in FIG. 17, even in the state in which theexcitation power of the xenon flash lamp is decreased, it was possiblefor the sample in which the fluorescent peak (line spectrum) by Euhaving a wavelength of 619 nm was 1 ppm to be sufficiently observed.

An example of procedure for identifying the manufacturer's name, thetype, the production place of an industrial product by adding severaltypes of fluorescent substances to the product by observing thefluorescent spectrum will be as follows.

(1) Determining an industrial product to which fluorescent substancesare to be added.

(2) Determining the type and concentration of the fluorescent substancesto be added. For example, the fluorescent substance 1 (concentration:100 ppm), fluorescent substance 2 (concentration: 10 ppm).

(3) Adding the determined fluorescent substance 1 and fluorescentsubstance 2 to the industrial product.

(4) Adding the fluorescent substance 1 (concentration: 100 ppm) and thefluorescent substance 2 (concentration: 10 ppm) respectively to productshaving the same material and type as the industrial products to whichfluorescent substances are added.

(5) Measuring the line spectrum of the product to which only thefluorescent substance 1 was added. The measured line spectrum will bereferred to as “line spectrum 1.”

(6) Similarly, measuring the line spectrum of the product to which onlythe fluorescent substance 2 was added. The measured line spectrum willbe referred to as “line spectrum 2.”

(7) Measuring the line spectrum of the industrial product to which thefluorescent substance 1 and the fluorescent substance 2 weresimultaneously added. The measured line spectrum will be referred to as“line spectrum 3.”

(8) When measuring the line spectrum, it is required to perform themeasurements under the same conditions. Since the fluorescence intensitystrongly depends on the excitation wavelength especially, when measuringthe line spectrums 1, 2 and 3, a light source having the same excitationwavelength and the same excitation wavelength width should be used.

(9) In advance, storing the measured line spectrums 1 and 2 in adatabase as data.

(10) When reading the stored line spectrums 1 and 2 using prescribedprogram, the respective line spectrums of the fluorescent substances 1and 2 are displayed on the right upper side of the screen.

(11) Reading out the measured line spectrum 3 on the “Single” column onthe screen.

(12) Clicking the “Single” column on the screen.

(13) A line spectrum calculated so as to reproduce the spectrum shape ofthe line spectrum 3 using the line spectrum shape of the previously readline spectrums 1 and 2 will appear on the right lower side of thescreen.

(14) In addition, the component ratio of the line spectrums 1 and 2 forreproducing a line spectrum and the error caused at the time ofreproducing will be displayed at the right side of the data displaycolumn read the line spectrums 1 and 2. Furthermore, the line spectrumwhich is a result representing the line spectrum using the componentratio of the determined line spectrums 1 and 2 will be displayed overthe line spectrum 3.

(15) Furthermore, the threshold for judging the ratio of the linespectrums 1 and 2 to reproduce the line spectrum 3 can be arbitrarilyset. The setting of the threshold is a function of eliminating thecorresponding line spectrum if the error is large.

By following the aforementioned procedures, from the known linespectrums 1 and 2, it is possible to judge in the line spectrum 3observed from the product how accurately fluorescent substances 1 and 2are added. The aforementioned product confirming process is one example,and therefore the sequence, of the method, the means and the procedurecan be changed.

It is effective to select a specific excitation wavelength and thenselectively excite it.

In the above example, an example in which the overlapping of spectrumsis small is shown. However, since both the case in which the spectrumpattern in which different types of line spectrums are overlappedintricately and the case in which a single line spectrum and thespectrum pattern are overlapped are saved in the storing means asreference signals, by comparing the signal patterns of the detectedencrypted information, the pattern can be separated into single spectrumor plural spectrums, which in turn enables the reading of the encryptedinformation.

The device used in the example is described as follow.

Koken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha

-   Spectroscope: MG-30

TABLE 6 Optical type Improved monk · girison · mount Grating rulingnumber 600 line/mm Reciprocal dispersion 25.8 nm/mm Half-width 10 nm (atthe time of 0.1 mm slit) Wavelength accuracy ±1 nm Collimator Focaldistance f = 30 mm Outside dimension 65 W × 45 H × 75 D mm Weight About700 gHamamatsu Phoyonisc Kabushiki Kaisha

-   Xenon flash lamp L7685-   Power source for lamp C6096-   External condenser E7289-01 (2 μF)-   Trigger socket E6647-   Cooling jacket E6611    Sigma Kohi Kabushiki Kaisha    -   Lens 1 Plano-convex quartz lens        -   (Focal distance f=30 mm, Diameter φ15 mm)    -   Lens 2 Piano-convex quartz lens        -   (Focal distance f=30 mm, Diameter φ15 mm)    -   Lens 3 Visible achromatic lens        -   (Focal distance f=30 mm, Diameter φ15 mm)-   Reflecting mirror Flat mirror Diameter φ30 mm    Asahi Spectra Kabushiki Kaisha-   Ultraviolet transmitting filter UV-B (reflection type)-   Half mirror DML-0350 (Diameter φ32 mm)-   Filter LU0400 25 mm angle (square)    Sony-   ILX554B (CCD for bar-code reader)    -   Effective pixel number 2048 pixels    -   Pixel size 14 μm×56 μm    -   5V Single power supply-   CCD control circuit    -   MAXIM JAPAN KABUSHIKI KAISHA A/D converting circuit MAX1284        -   Digital input/output circuit MAX488    -   IBI KABUSHIKI KAISHA CPU/USB circuit USB232/AT90S2313

Embodiment 2

Hereinafter, another concrete embodiment will be explained.

In this embodiment, fluorescent spectrums of three types of samples inwhich the aforementioned fluorescent substance D of 1 ppm, 10 ppm, 100ppm is added respectively to polycarbonate were measured.

As a result, the fluorescent intensity decreased as compared topolypropylene resin. However, by increasing the intensity of theexcitation light source and the accuracy of the photodetector, as shownin FIG. 19, the fluorescent peak (line spectrum) of Eu having thewavelength of 619 nm was sufficiently observed from the sample of 1 ppm.

The outline of the detecting device used in this measurement is shown inFIG. 20.

In FIG. 20, the exciting light form the He—Cd laser 201 is condensed bythe lens 202 on the sample. The light emission from the sample istransmitted through the lens 203 and the filter 204 and then inputtedinto the optical fiber 205 to be led to the spectroscope 206.

The incident light introduced through the entrance slit of thespectroscope 206 is wavelength-swept in accordance with the revolutionof the diffraction grating, and then the spectroscopy from the exit slitis introduced to the photomultiplier 207.

In the photomultiplier 207, the incident light is converted intoelectron and amplified, and then outputted as electro signal pulses. Thepulses are further amplified in the preamplifier 208, and the number ofpulses are counted by the photo counter 209. The measured value isdata-transferred to the fluorescence spectrum displaying device (e.g.,personal computer) via the GP-IB interface in the photo counter 209, andthen displayed as fluorescent spectrum data.

The devices used in this embodiment are shown as follows.

Pneum Kabushiki Kaisha

-   -   He—Cd laser 3056 (325 nm, 3.0 mW)        Nippon Roper Kabushiki Kaisha    -   Spectroscope SpectraPro 275 (resolution 1.5 nm)        Hamamatsu Photonics Kabushiki Kaisha    -   Cooling type photomultiplier R928        Stanford Research Systems, Inc.    -   Preamplifier SR445    -   Photo counter SR400        Sigma Koki Kabushiki Kaisha    -   Lens 1 Piano-convex quartz lens        -   (Focal distance f=60 mm, Diameter φ15 mm)    -   Lens 2 Plano-convex quartz lens        -   (Focal distance f=100 mm, Diameter φ30 mm)            Hoya-Schott    -   Filter Y47 50 mm angle (square)

As the polycarbonate resin, EUROPIRON “E2000” made by Mitsubishi GasChemical Company was used. Furthermore, the fluorescent substance D wasincreased in affinity with respect to the resin by the surface treatmentusing siloxane (SH1107 made by Toray Dow Corning Corp.), subjected tocompound together with the resin, and then formed into a plate shapesimilar to the aforementioned polypropylene. Thus, the sample wasprepared.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

According to the present invention, the information presenting substancecontaining-material can be easily and assuredly identified by specifyingthe encrypted information included in the material, and therefore theinvention can be applied to information presenting substance-containingmaterial capable of easily and assuredly processing operations such as aseparation of waste materials depending on categories, a tracking surveyof production history of a certain product, or checking of authenticityof a certain product. It can also be applied to the identificationmethod, the identification system and the identification device forperforming the aforementioned processing operations.

The invention claimed is:
 1. An information presentingsubstance-containing material, containing a material and an informationpresenting substance, wherein the information presenting substance is acompound including one or more ions selected from the group consistingof a transition element ion having an incomplete 3d shell, a transitionelement ion having an incomplete 4d shell, a transition element ionhaving an incomplete 5d shell and a rare-earth element ion and thereforeexhibiting one or plural respective line spectrums, wherein theinformation presenting substance is associated with specific encryptedinformation corresponding to the one or plural line spectrums, andwherein the encrypted information is associated with the line spectrumsand represented by plural digit numeric data, wherein each digit of thenumeric data corresponds to an emission wavelength of one of the linespectrums, and the value of each digit is proportional to the lightemitting intensity of the substance at this wavelength.
 2. Theinformation presenting substance-containing material as recited in claim1, wherein the material contains plural types of the informationpresenting substances.
 3. The information presentingsubstance-containing material as recited in claim 1, wherein theinformation presenting substance exhibits at least one line spectrumwithin a wavelength region covering from ultraviolet light to infraredlight.
 4. The information presenting substance-containing material asrecited in claim 1, wherein the compound is an inorganic compound. 5.The information presenting substance-containing material as recited inclaim 1, wherein the compound is an organic and inorganic complexcompound.
 6. The information presenting substance-containing material asrecited in claim 1, wherein the compound is an organic compound.
 7. Theinformation presenting substance-containing material as recited in claim1, wherein the information presenting substance is a crystal.
 8. Theinformation presenting substance-containing material as recited in claim1, wherein the information presenting substance is an amorphoussubstance.
 9. The information presenting substance-containing materialas recited in claim 1, wherein the information presenting substance is acomplex.
 10. The information presenting substance-containing material asrecited in claim 1, wherein the information presenting substance is asemiconductor.
 11. The information presenting substance-containingmaterial as recited in claim 1, wherein the material is a thermoplasticplastic.
 12. A product having an information presentingsubstance-containing material, the information presentingsubstance-containing material containing an information presentingsubstance and a material selected from the group consisting of plastic,paint, ink, paper and metal, wherein the information presentingsubstance is a compound including one or more ions selected from thegroup consisting of a transition element ion having an incomplete 3dshell, a transition element ion having an incomplete 4d shell, atransition element ion having an incomplete 5d shell and a rare-earthelement ion and therefore exhibiting one or plural respective linespectrums, wherein the information presenting substance is associatedwith specific encrypted information corresponding to the one or pluralline spectrums, wherein the specific encrypted information is encryptedinformation regarding the product, and wherein the encrypted informationis associated with the line spectrums and represented by plural digitnumeric data, wherein each digit of the numeric data corresponds to anemission wavelength of one of the line spectrums, and the value of eachdigit is proportional to the light emitting intensity of the substanceat this wavelength.
 13. A method for identifying information presentingsubstance-containing material, wherein the information presentingsubstance is a compound including one or more ions selected from thegroup consisting of a transition element ion having an incomplete 3dshell, a transition element ion having an incomplete 4d shell, atransition element ion having an incomplete 5d shell and a rare-earthelement ion and therefore giving one or plural respective linespectrums, and wherein the information presenting substance isassociated with specific encrypted information corresponding to the oneor plural line spectrums, the method, comprising the steps of: storingthe line spectrums and the encrypted information in an associated mannerin a storing means; detecting the line spectrums of the informationpresenting substance by irradiating electromagnetic waves within acertain wavelength region against the information presentingsubstance-containing material or a product using the material; andidentifying the information presenting substance-containing material byspecifying corresponding encrypted information based on the detectedline spectrums, wherein the encrypted information is associated with theline spectrums and represented by plural digit numeric data, whereineach digit of the numeric data corresponds to an emission wavelength ofone of the line spectrums, and the value of each digit is proportionalto the light emitting intensity of the substance at this wavelength. 14.An information presenting substance-containing material identificationsystem for identifying the information presenting substance-containingmaterial, wherein the information presenting substance is a compoundincluding one or more ions selected from the group consisting of atransition element ion having an incomplete 3d shell, a transitionelement ion having an incomplete 4d shell, a transition element ionhaving an incomplete 5d shell and a rare-earth element ion and thereforeexhibiting one or plural respective line spectrums, and wherein theinformation presenting substance is associated with specific encryptedinformation corresponding to the one or plural line spectrums, thesystem comprising: a storing means which stores the line spectrums andthe encrypted information in an associated manner in a storing means; adetecting means which detects the line spectrums of the informationpresenting substance by irradiating electromagnetic waves within acertain wavelength region against the information presentingsubstance-containing material or a product in which the material isused; and an identifying means which identifies the material byspecifying corresponding encrypted information from the storing meansbased on the line spectrums detected by the detecting means, wherein theencrypted information is associated with the line spectrums andrepresented by plural digit numeric data, wherein each digit of thenumeric data corresponds to an emission wavelength of one of the linespectrums, and the value of each digit is proportional to the lightemitting intensity of the substance at this wavelength.
 15. Anidentification device for use in an information presentingsubstance-containing material identification system for identifying theinformation presenting substance-containing material, wherein theinformation presenting substance is a compound including one or moreions selected from the group consisting of a transition element ionhaving an incomplete 3d shell, a transition element ion having anincomplete 4d shell, a transition element ion having an incomplete 5dshell and a rare-earth element ion, and therefore exhibiting one orplural respective line spectrums, and wherein the information presentingsubstance is associated with specific encrypted informationcorresponding to the one or plural line spectrums, the device,comprising: a storing means which stores the line spectrums and theencrypted information in an associated manner; and an identifying meanswhich identifies the material by specifying corresponding encryptedinformation from the storing means based on the line spectrums detectedby a detecting means for detecting the line spectrums of the informationpresenting substance by irradiated electromagnetic waves within acertain wavelength region against the information presentingsubstance-containing material or a product using the material, whereinthe encrypted information is associated with the line spectrums andrepresented by plural digit numeric data, wherein each digit of thenumeric data corresponds to an emission wavelength of one of the linespectrums, and the value of each digit is proportional to the lightemitting intensity of the substance at this wavelength.
 16. The productas recited in claim 12, wherein the material is a thermoplastic plastic.